A Guide For First Time Home Buyers

Every year, a new wave of future homeowners enter the market place looking for their perfect first home. Often considered a coming of age milestone, buying your first home is a sign of financial success and stability in your life.

However, the enormous commitment is extremely difficult to make. Buying a home will probably be the largest purchase most people have made thus making the experience a tad scary. However, to help prepare you for the process, here are some steps to follow and what to avoid when purchasing your first home.

1. Are You Ready?

If you are contemplating the possibility of buying a home, be honest with yourself on whether or not you are really prepared to make the commitment. The process can be extremely expensive as you will now be responsible for expenses like home repairs, utility costs, garbage pickup, water, and electricity as well as taxes and insurance related to your home.

It is highly recommended that you should not be in debt or reduce your debt before making the commitment to purchase a home and establish an emergency savings fund. If you are uncertain if you will manage to stick to the monthly payments for the mortgage of a home, a great tip is to start putting the amount of money you would be willing to spend on a mortgage into a savings and monitor if you can maintain the budget it would require.

2. Look At Loan Options

It is very rare for first-time homeowners to buy their house cash. Most people rely on a loan when they make their purchase. Therefore it is important to shop around and get pre-approved for a mortgage.

A pre-approved loan will also help set up a budget. Consider using a mortgage broker to access several different loan companies and programs to find the best rates. Also, contact your local bank or credit union to explore what options they have available as well.

3. Explore Adjustable-rate vs. Fixed-rate Mortgages

There are two types of mortgages that are offered for home purchases. It is important to explore both options. An adjustable-rate mortgage means the interest rate will vary over time. It will start with a lower initial rate but the rate may rise as market conditions change. This will lead to a higher monthly repayment.

On the other hand, a fixed-rate mortgage remains the same. This type of mortgage is a more stable option and allows you to effectively budget your monthly payments. However, should the market rate fall, you will be losing out but if the rates fall drastically there might be a possibility of refinancing in order to negotiate a lower rate.

Homeowners are warned to avoid a third option, called a hybrid mortgage. This type of loan offers a low fixed rate at first before switching to a higher variable rate resulting in the person paying a larger payment than they initially expected.

Homeowners are warned to avoid a third option, called a hybrid mortgage. This type of loan offers a low fixed rate at first before switching to a higher variable rate resulting in the person paying a larger payment than they initially expected.

4. Prepare A Down Payment

Another great tip to reduce the amount you will owe on your home is to save up for a substantial down payment, However, if you can only pay less than 20% of the cost of your home, you may be required to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI). However do not panic, it is often smart to budget for the possible cost of PMI when planning your purchase.

Some buyers opt to use creative financing to cover the down payment. However, it is smart to be cautious when exploring these options. The best option is to save up for a down payment instead.

5. Set A Budget

Most importantly, once you have saved up for your down payment and explored your mortgage options, set a budget. It is recommended that your budget for your mortgage, taxes, and insurance, should only be about 25 to 30 percent of your income.

Some experts advise that you should budget for a home that will not cost more than two and a half times your annual salary. Opting for a smaller house within your budget will allow you to continue to meet your other obligations without stressing you or your finances out.

6. Use A Real Estate Agent

After you are pre-approved for a mortgage and your budget firmly in place, it is time to find a good real estate agent. It is important to work with someone who understands your vision for your home and your needs.

Not only will a real estate agent recommend listings that meet your requirements, but they will also help you make an offer, secure the deal and negotiate the terms on your behalf. They will also guide you in terms of the paperwork and the process to successfully close.

7. Schedule a Home Inspection

After finding the home of your dreams, schedule a thorough home inspection. While an appraisal is free, a home inspection is paid for and involves an inspector looking to find hidden problems within the home before you pay for the home.

This process might alert you to deal-breakers that you might have initially overlooked. This may include mold, termites, foundation problems, or leaks in the roof. This is important as it can also help you budget for repairs and enable you to negotiate a lower price overall.

8. Patience is Key

After you have made your bid and the offer is accepted, the home will go into escrow. The escrow holder ensures all the documents, money and other necessary information are properly prepared before the deal is closed.

During this time, patience is key. Escrow is designed to protect the buyer, the seller, and the lender. Thus the process depends on a number of factors and often takes time to complete. Typically the closing date is three to five weeks after the offer is accepted.

9. Seal The Deal

Finally, the closing date has arrived. All the work has been put in and all you need to do now is sign the final papers. The escrow agent will release the funds.

Once the deal is closed, it’s time to prepare to move in. After moving in, ensure you have updated your address with your bank and other accounts. Set up your utilities and cancel any old ones on your name.

10. Things to Avoid

While house shopping, however, there are some things to avoid. Do not overestimate how much you can afford nor try to find the perfect home all on your own.

Avoid downplaying flaws simply because you like the home as it may result in you having to fork out massive amounts of money later for repairs. Another costly mistake would be overestimating how much you can fix by yourself.

Do not jump in too fast and avoid overbidding because you are afraid of losing the listing. This can result in issues later on especially with the appraisal, mortgage, and reselling the home later.